Yayati Regains His Youth

Shloka 1 (uttara.59.1)

श्रुत्वा तूशनसं क्रुद्धं तदार्तो नहुषात्मजः । जरां परमिकां प्राप्य यदुं वचनमब्रवीत् ।। 59.1 ।।

śrutvā tūśanasaṃ kruddhaṃ tadārto nahuṣātmajaḥ | jarāṃ paramikāṃ prāpya yaduṃ vacanamabravīt || 59.1 ||

Hearing that Ushanas was angry, the son of Nahusha, now distressed and afflicted with extreme old age, spoke this word to Yadu.

Shloka 2 (uttara.59.2)

यदो त्वमसि धर्मज्ञो मदर्थं प्रतिगृह्यताम् । जरां परमिकां पुत्र भोगै रंस्ये महायशः ।। 59.2 ।।

yado tvamasi dharmajño madarthaṃ pratigṛhyatām | jarāṃ paramikāṃ putra bhogai raṃsye mahāyaśaḥ || 59.2 ||

"O Yadu, you are a knower of dharma; for my sake, take on this extreme old age. O son, then, greatly renowned, I shall delight in pleasures.

Shloka 3 (uttara.59.3)

न तावत्कृतकृत्यो ऽस्मि विषयेषु नरर्षभ । अनुभूय तदा कामं ततः प्राप्स्याम्यहं जराम् ।। 59.3 ।।

na tāvatkṛtakṛtyo 'smi viṣayeṣu nararṣabha | anubhūya tadā kāmaṃ tataḥ prāpsyāmyahaṃ jarām || 59.3 ||

O bull among men, I have not yet fulfilled my purpose among the objects of sense; having then enjoyed them to my desire, I shall afterward take back old age."

Shloka 4 (uttara.59.4)

यदुस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रत्युवाच नरर्षभम् । पुत्रस्ते दयितः पूरुः प्रतिगृह्णातु वै जराम् ।। 59.4 ।।

yadustadvacanaṃ śrutvā pratyuvāca nararṣabham | putraste dayitaḥ pūruḥ pratigṛhṇātu vai jarām || 59.4 ||

Hearing that word, Yadu replied to the bull among men: "Let your beloved son Puru take on the old age."

Shloka 5 (uttara.59.5)

बहिष्कृतो ऽहमर्थेषु सन्निकर्षाच्च पार्थिव । प्रतिगृह्णातु वै राजन् कः सहाश्नाति भोजनम् ।। 59.5 ।।

bahiṣkṛto 'hamartheṣu sannikarṣācca pārthiva | pratigṛhṇātu vai rājan kaḥ sahāśnāti bhojanam || 59.5 ||

"O king, I have been excluded from your wealth, despite our closeness. Let him accept it, O king — who indeed shares a meal with one so cast out?"

Shloka 6 (uttara.59.6)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा राजा पूरुमथाब्रवीत् । इयं जरा महाबाहो मदर्थं प्रतिगृह्यताम् ।। 59.6 ।।

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā rājā pūrumathābravīt | iyaṃ jarā mahābāho madarthaṃ pratigṛhyatām || 59.6 ||

Hearing his words, the king then said to Puru: "O mighty-armed one, take on this old age for my sake."

Shloka 7 (uttara.59.7)

नाहुषेणैवमुक्तस्तु पूरुः प्राञ्जलिरब्रवीत् । धन्यो ऽस्म्यनुगृहीतो ऽस्मि शासने ऽस्मि तव स्थितः ।। 59.7 ।।

nāhuṣeṇaivamuktastu pūruḥ prāñjalirabravīt | dhanyo 'smyanugṛhīto 'smi śāsane 'smi tava sthitaḥ || 59.7 ||

Thus addressed by the son of Nahusha, Puru, with joined palms, said: "I am blessed, I am favoured; I stand within your command."

Shloka 8 (uttara.59.8)

पूरोर्वचनमाज्ञाय नाहुषः परया मुदा । प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे जरां सङ्क्रामयच्च ताम् ।। 59.8 ।।

pūrorvacanamājñāya nāhuṣaḥ parayā mudā | praharṣamatulaṃ lebhe jarāṃ saṅkrāmayacca tām || 59.8 ||

Understanding Puru's words, the son of Nahusha, with the greatest joy, attained unequalled delight, and transferred that old age onto him.

Shloka 9 (uttara.59.9)

ततः स राजा तरुणः प्राप्य यज्ञान्सहस्रशः । बहुवर्षसहस्राणि पालयामास मेदिनीम् ।। 59.9 ।।

tataḥ sa rājā taruṇaḥ prāpya yajñānsahasraśaḥ | bahuvarṣasahasrāṇi pālayāmāsa medinīm || 59.9 ||

Then, that king, having become young, performing sacrifices by the thousands, ruled the earth for many thousands of years.

Shloka 10 (uttara.59.10)

अथ दीर्घस्य कालस्य राजा पूरुमथाब्रवीत् । आनयस्व जरां पुत्र न्यासं निर्यातयस्व मे ।। 59.10 ।।

atha dīrghasya kālasya rājā pūrumathābravīt | ānayasva jarāṃ putra nyāsaṃ niryātayasva me || 59.10 ||

Then, after a long time, the king said to Puru: "Bring back the old age, my son; return to me my deposit.

Shloka 11 (uttara.59.11)

न्यासभूता मया पुत्र त्वयि सङ्क्रामिता जरा । तस्मात्प्रतिग्रहीष्यामि तां जरां मा व्यथां कृथाः ।। 59.11 ।।

nyāsabhūtā mayā putra tvayi saṅkrāmitā jarā | tasmātpratigrahīṣyāmi tāṃ jarāṃ mā vyathāṃ kṛthāḥ || 59.11 ||

The old age which I transferred to you, my son, was in the nature of a deposit; therefore I shall take back that old age; do not be distressed.

Shloka 12 (uttara.59.12)

प्रीतश्चास्मि महाबाहो शासनस्य प्रतिग्रहात् । त्वां चाहमभिषेक्ष्यामि प्रीतियुक्तो नराधिपम् ।। 59.12 ।।

prītaścāsmi mahābāho śāsanasya pratigrahāt | tvāṃ cāhamabhiṣekṣyāmi prītiyukto narādhipam || 59.12 ||

And I am pleased, O mighty-armed one, at your acceptance of my command; and, filled with love, I shall consecrate you as king."

Shloka 13 (uttara.59.13)

एवमुक्त्वा सुतं पूरुं ययातिर्नहुषात्मजः । देवयानीसुतं क्रुद्धो राजा वाक्यमुवाच ह ।। 59.13 ।।

evamuktvā sutaṃ pūruṃ yayātirnahuṣātmajaḥ | devayānīsutaṃ kruddho rājā vākyamuvāca ha || 59.13 ||

Having spoken thus to his son Puru, King Yayati, son of Nahusha, angrily spoke this word to the son of Devayani.

Shloka 14 (uttara.59.14)

राक्षसस्त्वं मया जातः पुत्ररूपो दुरासदः । प्रतिहंसि ममाज्ञां यत् प्रजार्थे विफलो भव ।। 59.14 ।।

rākṣasastvaṃ mayā jātaḥ putrarūpo durāsadaḥ | pratihaṃsi mamājñāṃ yat prajārthe viphalo bhava || 59.14 ||

"You were born to me as a rakshasa in the guise of a son, hard to withstand; since you defy my command, be fruitless as regards progeny.

Shloka 15 (uttara.59.15)

पितरं गुरुभूतं मां यस्मात्त्वमवमन्यसे । राक्षसान्यातुधानांस्त्वं जनयिष्यसि दारुणान् ।। 59.15 ।।

pitaraṃ gurubhūtaṃ māṃ yasmāttvamavamanyase | rākṣasānyātudhānāṃstvaṃ janayiṣyasi dāruṇān || 59.15 ||

Since you disregard me, your father, who am to you as a guru, you shall beget fearsome rakshasas, evil demons.

Shloka 16 (uttara.59.16)

न तु सोमकुलोत्पन्ने वंशे स्थास्यति दुर्मतेः । वंशो ऽपि भवतस्तुल्यो दुर्विनीतो भविष्यति ।। 59.16 ।।

na tu somakulotpanne vaṃśe sthāsyati durmateḥ | vaṃśo 'pi bhavatastulyo durvinīto bhaviṣyati || 59.16 ||

The line of one so evil-minded shall not remain established within the dynasty born of Soma; your line too shall become ill-disciplined, like yourself."

Shloka 17 (uttara.59.17)

तमेवमुक्त्वा राजर्षिः पूरुं राज्यविवर्धनम् । अभिषेकेण सम्पूज्य आश्रमं प्रविवेश ह ।। 59.17 ।।

tamevamuktvā rājarṣiḥ pūruṃ rājyavivardhanam | abhiṣekeṇa sampūjya āśramaṃ praviveśa ha || 59.17 ||

Having said this, the royal sage, having honoured Puru, the increaser of the kingdom, with a consecration, entered the hermitage.

Shloka 18 (uttara.59.18)

ततः कालेन महता दिष्टान्तमुपजग्मिवान् । त्रिदिवं सङ्गतो राजा ययातिर्नहुषात्मजः ।। 59.18 ।।

tataḥ kālena mahatā diṣṭāntamupajagmivān | tridivaṃ saṅgato rājā yayātirnahuṣātmajaḥ || 59.18 ||

Then, after a great length of time, having reached the end allotted by fate, King Yayati, son of Nahusha, attained union with heaven.

Shloka 19 (uttara.59.19)

पूरुश्चकार तद्राज्यं धर्मेण महता वृतः । प्रतिष्ठाने पुरवरे काशिराज्ये महायशाः ।। 59.19 ।।

pūruścakāra tadrājyaṃ dharmeṇa mahatā vṛtaḥ | pratiṣṭhāne puravare kāśirājye mahāyaśāḥ || 59.19 ||

Puru, endowed with great righteousness, greatly renowned, then ruled that kingdom, in the excellent city of Pratishthana, in the realm of Kashi.

Shloka 20 (uttara.59.20)

यदुस्तु जनयामास यातुधानान्सहस्रशः । पुरे क्रौञ्चवने दुर्गे राजवंशबहिष्कृतः ।। 59.20 ।।

yadustu janayāmāsa yātudhānānsahasraśaḥ | pure krauñcavane durge rājavaṃśabahiṣkṛtaḥ || 59.20 ||

But Yadu, cast out from the royal lineage, begot thousands of demons in the fortified city of Krauncavana.

Shloka 21 (uttara.59.21)

एष तूशनसा मुक्तः शापोत्सर्गो ययातिना । धारितः क्षत्रधर्मेण यन्निमिश्च न चक्षमे ।। 59.21 ।।

eṣa tūśanasā muktaḥ śāpotsargo yayātinā | dhāritaḥ kṣatradharmeṇa yannimiśca na cakṣame || 59.21 ||

This curse released by Ushanas was borne, through kshatriya-dharma, by Yayati — which is the very thing that Nimi did not forgive.

Shloka 22 (uttara.59.22)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं दर्शनं सर्वकारिणाम् । अनुवर्तामहे सौम्य दोषो न स्याद्यथा नृगे ।। 59.22 ।।

etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ darśanaṃ sarvakāriṇām | anuvartāmahe saumya doṣo na syādyathā nṛge || 59.22 ||

All this has been told to you — the way of conduct of all those who act; O gentle one, we should follow it so that no fault should befall us, as it did in the case of Nriga.

Shloka 23 (uttara.59.23)

इति कथयति रामे चन्द्रतुल्यानने च प्रविरलतरतारं व्योम जज्ञे तदानीम् । अरुणकिरणरक्ता दिग्बभौ चैव पूर्वा कुसुमरसविमुक्तं वस्त्रमाकुण्ठितेव ।। 59.23 ।।

iti kathayati rāme candratulyānane ca praviralataratāraṃ vyoma jajñe tadānīm | aruṇakiraṇaraktā digbabhau caiva pūrvā kusumarasavimuktaṃ vastramākuṇṭhiteva || 59.23 ||

As Rama, moon-faced, was thus telling the tale, the sky at that moment became sparse with fading stars; and the eastern quarter shone red with the rays of dawn, like a garment released from the scent of flowers, slowly unwrapped.